Obtaining Canadian permanent residence requires payment of two categories of fees: a processing fee (for the cost of processing the application) and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) (a separate fee payable when the application is approved and permanent residence is being conferred). Both fees were increased effective April 30, 2026.

Permanent residence is not formally granted until the RPRF has been paid. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, permanent residence fees are adjusted every two years to offset program costs.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) — the regulatory framework for PR fee adjustments
• IRCC: Permanent residence fees increasing on April 30, 2026 — canada.ca/pr-fees-increase-2026
• IRCC: Citizenship and immigration fees list — ircc.canada.ca/fees

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)

The RPRF is a fee paid by each applicant who is being granted permanent residence in Canada (other than those in the refugee or protected person category, who are exempt). It is a flat fee per person — each adult being granted PR pays the RPRF. Dependent children are exempt from the RPRF.

The RPRF is distinct from the processing fee. The processing fee covers the administrative cost of assessing the application — it is paid when the application is filed (or at a specified stage) and is generally not refundable. The RPRF is paid when the application is approved — permanent residence is not formally granted until the RPRF payment has been received. If the application is refused, no RPRF is due.

Fee amounts — effective April 30, 2026

The following fees apply to applications submitted or approved on or after April 30, 2026. For applications submitted before that date, the previous fee schedule may apply — check the IRCC fee changes page for transition rules.

Category	Processing fee (from April 30, 2026)	RPRF
Family class — sponsor	$75 (sponsorship application fee)	N/A
Family class — principal applicant (adult)	$570	$600
Provincial Nominee Program	$990	$600
Protected persons in Canada	$660	$0 (exempt)
Business class	$1,895	$600

For the complete and current fee schedule across all PR categories, refer to the IRCC fee list. Dependent children attract a lower processing fee and are exempt from the RPRF.

When fees are paid

For most PR categories, the processing fee is paid when the application is submitted. For the Family Class specifically, the sponsor can pay the applicant's processing fee when the sponsor files the sponsorship application, rather than waiting for a separate prompt from IRCC.

The RPRF must be paid before permanent residence is formally granted. For online applications, IRCC typically sends a payment request when the application is near approval. For paper applications, the fee may need to be submitted at an earlier stage.

RPRF loan for government-assisted refugees

Government-assisted refugees (GARs) who cannot afford to pay the RPRF and associated immigration-related costs upfront may be eligible for an interest-free RPRF loan through IRCC. The loan is repayable once the refugee is settled and employed. For details, refer to the RPRF loan application guide.

For the most current fee amounts — including for all categories not listed in this table — always refer to the IRCC fee list directly. Fees change on a regular schedule and using outdated fee information can cause applications to be returned.

Fees paid to IRCC are generally not refunded if an application is refused. The processing fee is the cost of having the application assessed — it is not contingent on a successful outcome. The RPRF is refundable if the application is not approved (since it is only due upon approval), though specific refund rules should be confirmed on the IRCC fee pages.